"Cool looking because it's old; not so cool looking because it's scary"

Broadway Alley is a tiny alley between 26th and 27th that most people that have lived here forever don't even know about. It's a pretty cool looking alley but I wouldn't want to live here. There are a lot of alleys in neighborhoods like the West Village that boast highly coveted property because they are so private and quiet compared to other streets. Broadway Alley is definitely more private and quiet than a lot of Kips Bay streets but it looks like it hasn't changed in 200 years (and it really hasn't) and Kips Bay was a terrible neighborhood back then. It looks like a dark and dingey alley from the 1800's -- the road is still unpaved. It's pretty dirty and boasts only back entrances to a couple of apartments and a restaurant. Barnum and Bailey used to keep their elephants in this alley once upon a time. But, now there's just dirt, fire escapes and broken bottles. There used to be a lot of vagrants and prostitutes back here but a few years ago they put a gate up which is locked at night. So, the transient population doesn't seem to be a problem anymore . . .but it looks like it still would be.